On Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at approximately 2:45 A.M. Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Hwy 99E near milepost 30.

Preliminary investigation reveals a Ford truck, operated by Efren Arellano-Contreras (19) of Woodburn, was north on Hwy 99E when he left the roadway and collided with a power pole.  

Power lines were down and Hwy 99E was shut for approximately 2 hours.

Arellano-Contreras was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Arellano-Contreras is being charged with DUII, reckless driving and criminal mischief in the second degree. 

OSP was assisted by Marion County Sheriffs Office, Woodburn Police Department, Oregon Department of Transportation and Hubbard Fire department.

On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at approximately 8:32 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle on Highway 140 East near milepost 8.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a gold Mazda, operated by Zahara Gonzales (38) of Klamath Falls, was traveling westbound on Hwy 140E, entering an active construction zone. Gonzales struck a road construction flagger, identified as Daniel Wessel (45) of Klamath Falls.  Wessel was working for Rocky Mountain Construction.

Wessel sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Hwy 140E was closed for 4 hours following the crash.

OSP was assisted by ODOT, Klamath County Sheriff's Office, and Klamath Fire Department.  

Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded $78,021 in grants to 13 museums throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation, visitor education and heritage tourism. Award amounts ranged $1,230 - $8,148.

Funded projects:

• Benton County Historical Society, in Philomath, for conservation of an 1850 child’s dress and jacket.
• Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation, in Merlin, for building repair.
• Gilliam County Historical Society, in Condon, for interpretive panels.
• Gresham Historical Society for collections storage improvements.
• High Desert Museum, near Bend, to install the Natural Wanderment exhibition and offer associated programming.
• Lane County Historical Society, in Eugene, for collections storage improvements.
• The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, in Eugene, to digitize a portion of the Native American basket collection.
• North Lincoln County Historical Society, in Lincoln City, to develop a research library.
• Tillamook Forest Center, near Tillamook, for collections storage improvements.
• Oregon Daughters of the American Revolution, in St Helens, for preservation of the Caples House.
• Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, in Portland, for the purchase of rare train parts.
• Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, in Portland, to develop the Present Future Lab.
• Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health, in Salem, to organize, document , and re-house the large furniture collection.

The museum grant program is offered annually by the Oregon Heritage Commission, part of the Oregon Heritage program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The grant program began in 1965 when only 24 organizations were eligible for the program.

The Oregon Heritage Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission sponsors heritage initiatives that educate the public about the value of heritage and celebrate the state’s diversity.

The Oregon Heritage Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent a diverse geographical and heritage background.

To learn more about the Oregon Museum Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) has awarded $62,394 in grants to 12 historic cemetery projects throughout the state. The funds will help support preservation efforts, repair work and visitor education. Individual award amounts ranged $2460-$8,000.

Funded projects:

• Restoration of the Gibbons-Maxwell memorial in the Athena Cemetery in Athena.
• Monument repair at Blue Mountain Kees Cemetery in Weston.
• Monument repair and cleaning at the Zion Memorial Cemetery in Canby.
• Fence repair and storage shed at the East Drain Cemetery.
• Road improvement and shed repair at the IOOF Cemetery in Coburg.
• Complete a walking tour and kiosk at Logtown Cemetery in Jackson County.
• Purchase and install block markers at Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland.
• Install an information kiosk and digitized the records of the Moro Cemetery.
• Rehabilitate the Veterans Memorial area at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City.
• Repair, reset and clean headstones at the St. Helens Masonic Cemetery.
• Repair fencing and five monuments at the Ukiah Cemetery.
• Repair monuments and remove trees in the Weston Cemetery.

Historic cemeteries are documented by OCHC and must include the burial of at least one person who died before Feb. 14, 1909.

The historic cemetery grant program is offered annually by the OCHC, part of the Oregon Heritage Program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).

OCHC maintains a list of all pioneer and historic cemeteries in the state. The seven-member appointed commission helps people and organizations document, preserve and promote of designated historic cemeteries statewide.

For more information about the grant program or the OCHC, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

# # #

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Ajon Webster, died the morning of June 16, 2019. Webster was incarcerated at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Ajon Webster entered DOC custody on October 8, 2018, out of Multnomah County with an earliest release date of August 14, 2036. Webster was 29 years old. Next of kin has been notified. No other details are available at this time.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

EOCI is a multi-custody prison located in Pendleton that houses over 1,700 individuals. The institution is known for its Oregon Corrections Enterprises industries, including a garment factory that produces Prison Blues©, whose products are sold in and outside the United States. Other industries are its embroidery and laundry facilities. EOCI provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health treatment, religious services, and inmate work crews. The buildings that make up EOCI were constructed in 1912 and 1913 and were originally used as a state mental hospital. After two years of renovation, EOCI received its first adults in custody in June 1985.

####

UPDATE 6-14-19

Lake Owyhee State Park has reopened. County crews have finished clearing landslide debris from the access road, allowing access to the park. 

###

ORIGINAL RELEASE TEXT

Multiple landslides caused by heavy rains during the evening hours of June 12 have covered the sole access road to Lake Owyhee State Park, prompting the park’s closure until further notice.

The park’s access road, Owyhee Lake Road, will be closed to visitors while Malheur County road crews work to clear slide debris and assess road conditions. The slides are covering the road in multiple locations, starting about ½ mile north of the dam and continuing south towards to the park.  

For current information about road conditions, contact Malheur County officials:

• Wess Allison, Malheur County Nyssa Road Dept. (below dam): 541-372-2632
• Dave Tifney, Malheur County Road Dept. (above dam): 541-473-5191

Park staff have been in contact with the approximately 80 day-use and overnight visitors in the park. Park staff are asking visitors to remain in the park until county officials send word that the road is cleared and safe for visitors to use.

As of this release, there have been no reported injuries or medical concerns among park visitors. There is no damage to park facilities or structures from the landslides; access to potable water, electricity and restrooms is unaffected.  

More information about the park, including maps and directions, is on oregonstateparks.org.

###

Note for editors: Lake Owyhee State Park is in a remote area; cell phone service is intermittent. Subsequent updates will be published as access to the park is improved.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Lloyd Roberts, died the morning of June 12, 2019. Roberts was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla and passed away at the infirmary. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified. 

Roberts entered DOC custody on October 9, 2018, from Wasco County with an earliest release date of October 26, 2024. Roberts was 72 years old. Next of kin has been notified.  

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

TRCI is a multi-custody prison in Umatilla that houses approximately 1,800 adults in custody. TRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including institution and industrial laundry, mattress manufacturing, and sewing. Other institution work programs include repair and cleaning of irrigation ditches, maintenance of local baseball fields, and work with local cities and the Hermiston School District. The facility provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, religious services, and behavioral health services. TRCI opened in 2000.

####